GU students need to save their skin: Health report

Shocking as it may sound, nearly 8.44% of the first year students at the Gujarat University suffer from skin disease. Of the around 2,299 students examined by the doctors hired by GU in its affiliated colleges in the urban as well as rural parts, 1,811 students in urban and 488 in rural parts suffer from skin diseases.

The health check-up of around 27,222 students in GU-affiliated colleges screened them for 17 types of diseases. The check-up revealed that 6.78% students in urban areas are under-weight and 7.31% are obese. According to the check up, of the total 1,847 students, 1,509 are under-weight in urban areas. Similarly, of the total 1991 examined students, around 1,788 were found to be obese in urban area.

Around 1,207 students from total 1,672 students were found to have refractive error in vision. About 1,037 students from 1,704 were found anaemic. This comes to 6.25% of total students. Around 29 students suffered from anxiety and 33 from depression.

Pro vice-chancellor at GU, Dr Mukul Shah, said that the medical check-up was done to keep a watch on the students' health. "I believe the medical team has included even minor skin problems in the list as a disease and so a higher number of students is found in the category. Such skin problems might happen because of usage of cheap cosmetics, lack of personal hygiene and sometimes because of weather conditions," he said.

He said the varsity has sent the health reports of students to their parents for remedial actions.